Plating machine



Aug. 16, 1949. J. v. DAVIS 2,479,323

PLATING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1946 e Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 16, 1949. J. v. DAVIS ,3

PLATING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1946 G-Sheets-Sheet '2 IN VEN TOR. Jo/m Pa /5 Aug. 16, 1949. ,J v, V S 2,479,323

PLATING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1946 v I 6 Shets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. do/w/ V919 W5,

HTTQQ/YEX J. V- DAVIS' PLATING MACHINE Aug. 16, 1949.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 13, 1946 Aug. 16, 1949. J. v. DAVIS 2,4799323 PLATING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1946 I D 6 Shee.ts-$heet 5 \55 INVENTOR. Jay/y 2 9/ 9 7/;

HTTOF/YEY Aug 16, 1949- J. v. DAVIS I 2,479,323

PLATING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Han.

INVENTOR. Jae/Y 3/47/9145 1977ZZ/YEX Patented Aug. 16, 1949 JPPLATING MACHINE ,Jb 'n v. ,Dav s,inetrioit, Mi'c'h 'as'si'gnor to' The 'jUdylite"Corpoi-ation, Detroit,f'Mich., a -corpora- 'tion' of Delaware ApplicationJune'B, 1946,- Se1{ial No. 616,369 7*Claims. (01:204 222) L'ihe presentinvention pertains to. a "novel f'platrin machine and moreparticularlyto one designed forfthe plating Io'f 's'malllar'ticles, such as washer-S nuts, bolts, screWs -etc.

I fIIhaprincipal object ofI-the inventionis to pro .,vide:; a machine o frth is character which produces ianexeellent plate on articleslof the type enuwrnerated andia't a relatively rapid rate. -In the accomplishment of this object,fthe apparatus-ineludes a. crosszshaft mounted over the plating :tank-and-having a.work container and a per- ,forate ariode basketswingably suspended therefrom -The workrcontainer lies outside of the ;a;noderbas ket,,and is oscillated in relation thereto .-i n .-the plating operation.

-,';I he in-venti0n v also -p1fovides mechanism for ilifting the cross shaftand-then tilting the work container relatively to the anode basket 'for emptying-.-the container. In order to accomplish :the last-rname'd; functionthe mechanism for oscillatin glthework-container ithin the tank inz-cludes a telescopic rod which, howeveriis locked .lagainstjtelescopioac tion at this time When-the rGlOSSiShEjt supporting the :anode basket and .theivvork container is raised, the telescopic rod is vunlocked-to permit a greater displacement of both thesbasketrand the container v about. the shaft and ,,tlius;enable. the emptying the container without linterierence from the basket. j

sThet-inventiqn is efully disclosed by -way-of ex- .ample in the following description and in -the accompanying drawings in which: 4 I

; Figure-1153a front elevation partly in section, of ;the (platin machine;

-Figure-=2 is a fragmentary.lhorizontal section 1 in a parallel plane, showing the pivot for the "-frame which supports the. motor, cradle and anode bas t;

Figurei 3-.-is a, section on the line 3-.'3 of Fi 411F611 V Figure: 4 .is a side elevation showing the posi- :tion-of the-work'cradle and anode basket durin wre t :fF igIlle 5 is a detail rsection of the work cradle;

, Eigure 6- is-a detail of the clutch;

Ei ure 7 is a side elevation showing the work cradleunlatched andsin unloading position;

, Figure 8.- is adetailelevation ofthe cradle rock- -zilflg mechanism showing the cradleunlatched be- Jere-being elevated-to unloading position;

Figure 9 isralongitudinalsection:of the ork cradle;

lj'igure 110 is a front elevation thereof, partly broke -away? 1 Figure 1 1 is !r detail longitudinalsectionofizthe drive shaft and clutch mechanism EigurelZis-a sectionof theanodebasket taken .lerigitudirrallywf themachine;

Eigure 13 isa-section-ofsthe anode basket: taken Ttransversely; of the rm achine and Fi ure 14 'isfa dtail sect on of "the anode baske't.

Reference to these views will now. beh nadepy llise jdf ilikebharaiiters -,WhiCh ar'eemplo ed .etb designate correspondingparts throughout. i

InfFi'g ure, 1 is 's'h'owna platinatari I wadaiite tocontainair-electrolyte, 2. "The plating ma'chin e, iwliichconfstitutes I-tliis invention, comprises a cradle or -woi k haskt which can heassemmeii as a u nitjana,iinsta11ed .,on ny conventional mating tank. '{The work cradle may, vserve bothlagoontainer'idrthe work. andra container'for a qiiantity e f plating solution.

For this purpose the supportingfirame work iorilthe ipla'tin machine comprises a-ibase con sistin'g r of side channel irons.;'3;. and,l bolted {to the top off the tank L'asgat 5, and anend'c' hann l iro'ngifi. The base of I the frame .sl pp'ditsztwo Quprigh't channelirons i'loandi which in turnrs'up- 'port at their upper ends ia transverse channel-iron f9. These, menibersoffthe'framermay be -fastened together any suitable manner.

aAn anodebasketll ll -and a workcradle H are .;movab1y,mounted,with respect tethefltank i. ,In order to ;perniit, the movements described below, .th'ejbasket andthe cradle aremounted on a hcross's'haft [2. -,;The:en'ds ;of-,the cifossshaft l2 passflthrou'gh ends. or the channel iron members -.l3..a r1d 'l4, andareusecured inthisiposition -lqy vI nuts 15, The remainingends. of i the members- .1 3 and. areipivotallysupported on a shaf-t l6 ;-c a rriedZbyA upright, channel iron -members H which :in turn are supported by the'llower frame rmembars 3, T4 andgG. Thus, the members and l-4 swing-as arms about vthesha ft 16 as'; a cen-terrin lthe raising-f and-lowering of the work cradle eand anodelbasket,astwill presently be shown.

. For the purpose of raising and -1owering3:l2he work basket and;anode;baskets from the --plating solution, the; pivbted mernbers l3;,an d -|;4 ;-carry a --support I8 -(Fig 1re:3) :which in turn earries an electric v, moto' r, l,9. :A reduction driveazfl iss also mounted on the support -l8 and is connected @the motor'by'a belt "2 I.

Thesupport J 81- has-mounted thereon a number of pi1low -blocks in-iwhich- -are journalled a longitudinal-lywshittable driveshaft 23 and; agseparate driven shaft, 24. ,;-The;shaft-2-3 isein alinement;-W lth ;:t he;shaft24 iofgthe reductior 1;;ge ar- 2ll; to which-' it is connected by: a sleeve 2 5;;sp1ined- 217326,; on th aen'dgwithsa notched :sIeeVe -GS. 'Ihe -s'litift' alse pieces or the like. terially'assist in keeping the soluble anode macarries a pin 36 receivable in the sleeve 35 and a clutch element 31 engageable with the element 32. Figure 11 shows the pin 36 received in the collar 35, for driving the drum 34, and the element 31 separated from the element 32, so that the driven shaft 24 is idle. To drive the shaft 24 and release the drum 34, the lever 28 is actuated to slide the shaft 23 to the left in Figure 11, thereby withdrawing the pin 36 from the collar 35 and engaging the clutch'element 31 with the element 32, to rotate the shaft 24 and the crank 3I' attached thereto. However, in the position illustrated in Figure 11, the shaft 23 drives the drum 34 through the pin 36 and collar 35.

A chain 39 which is fixed at one end to the drum 34 passes over a pulley 46 supported by the cross member 9 and is secured at its other end as at M to a member 42 pivotally mounted on the shaft I2. Thus, when the shaft 2I is in driving relation with the drum 34, the rotation of the drum winds the chain 39 thereon and thereby swings the pivoted frame members I3, I4 about their shaft I6 which in turn raises the anode basket I and the work cradle I I from the bath, as shown in Figure 7.

The operation of the motor I8 is controlled through a switch lever arm 43 shown in Figure 1. The arm 43 is connected by means of a chain 44 to a bracket 45 fixed to the cradle support shaft I2. As shown, when the lever arm 43 is in center position, the current is shut off from the motor. If theanode basket and work cradle and the pivoted support frame I3, I4 has been swung upward about the shaft I6 to raised position, as shown in Figure 4, and it is desired to lower them into the plating tank and solution, the lever arm 43 is turned clockwise to the dotted line position indicated by the word lower. As the pivoted frame I3, I4, the anode basket and the work cradle swing downwardly and reach the full lowered position, the chain 44 straightens out. Its length is so calculated that the lever 43 is swung from its above center or lower position to its center or off position, thus cutting off the motor I8. On the other hand, in the raising of the pivoted frame I3, I4, the anode basket and the work cradle, the lever 44 is swung downwardly below center to the lift position. As the chain 39 winds up on the drum 34 to raise the frame I3, I4

and the anode basket and work cradle, the bracket 45 gradually approaches and finally engages the switch lever 43', throwing the same to center or off position, shutting off the motor and terminating the movement of the frame, anode basket and Work cradle about the shaft I6.

The anode basket II], as shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14, comprises a skeleton of spaced parallel horizontal steel wires 46 held apart by cross wire spacers 41. The wire framework 46, 41 is covered by an expanded metal mesh 48. The mesh 48 is preferably covered with rubber which, however,

need not be used if not desired. The wire mesh cooperates with the frame work 46, 41 to form downwardly and inwardly converging bottom walls 49 of the basket I0; Thus, the anode basket I0 in vertical section has a V-shape. The horizontal parallel wire members 46 serve as steps upon which rests the soluble anode material or metal which may be in the form of balls, scrap Thus, the cross wires 46 material distributed throughout the entire area of the bottom walls 49 of the basket I0, thus insuring a large soluble a'node area relative to the cathode or work surface area which is to be plated.

Brackets 50 are fixed to the end walls of the basket I0 and are provided with supporting plates I5 which are adjustable up and down along the brackets 50. The plates I5 have a V-notch 5| in which they engage the shaft I2, as shown in Figure 13, and thus serve to suspend the basket from the shaft. This permits the anode basket I0 to be adjusted toward and away from the work cradle I I to vary the clearance between the work and the anode. This clearance, of course, will vary with the load of small articles placed in the cradle and plated at any one time. Although in the operation of the plating machine the basket I0 normally remains stationary, nevertheless the shaft I2 engages the brackets 56 in the V-notches 5I, which permits the basket to rock or swing on the shaft I2 if desired and particularly to prevent destruction of the basket in the event that any work becomes lodged between the bottom wall 49 of the basket and the bottom of the work cradle. The anode lead (not shown) is connected to the shaft I2, and the current conducted through the brackets to the wire frame members 46 which are in electrically conducting relation with the soluble anode material.

The work cradle I I is shown in detail in Figures 5, 9 and 10 and comprises a container having end walls 55, front and rear walls 56, 5! and a W- shaped bottom wall 58. The cradle is preferably open at the top while the side, end and bottom walls are preferably imperforate so that the cradle also serves as a holder for the plating solution, The walls of the cradle are formed of sheet metal and covered on each side with a rubber coating 59. The front wall 51 is preferably removable to facilitate removal of the work from the cradle and normally is retained in position by latches 60. The inside face of the bottom wall 58 is provided with a plurality of parallel corrugations 6I extending transversely of the axis about which the cradle swings and lying parallel to the direction of swinging of the cradle. The parallel corrugations 6I cause flat work, such as washers, to stand somewhat on edge and prevent the clinging or adhering of such fiat work to the bottom of the cradle. The corrugations also serve to prevent light work from sticking to the bottom of the work cradle. The cradle is provided at each end with a rubber coated bracket 62. The brackets 62 are rotatably mounted on the shaft I2 at 63 to prevent swinging of the cradle I I about the shaft I2.

In a plating operation, it is desirable that the entire surface of small articles be plated. Consequently it is essential that the entire surface of each small article be exposed and not shielded from the ion flow during the plating operation. For this purpose the basket is swung back and forth during the plating operation upon the shaft I2 to tumble the work and thus expose all the surfaces of small articles to the plating solution. To reduce the angle of tilt of the cradle and yet obtain the tumbling of the work in the swinging of the cradle, the bottom 58 of the cradle is provided with a hurdle 64 over which the work must travel. This hurdle preferably takes the form of two diverging walls or inner surfaces 65 and 66 extending lengthwise of the longitudinal center of the bottom of the cradle and forming in section an inverted V or the center of 'the W formation of the entire bottom. The hurdle 64 is positioned between two upwardly and outwardly diverging wall portions or outer surfaces 61, as shown in Figure 9. This is desirable because, by

horizontal, said inclination being measured when the:cradle is imcenter 'position, 'the anglelof tilt-is accordingly :reduce'd', that --is, the are through which' the cradle-l I must 'be swung to tumble and separate thework is thereby reduced when com-. pared with a cradle having a horizontal bottom wallpo'rtion. Thus in'sectionitheibottom58 of the -cra'dle takesthe form of aw. The angles A, betweenthe bottcmlwall portions '65, 51 and 66, 61 shouldb'e less than 180 I and,- although this angle will vary :with the -type of small article which is belng plated and the' spe'ed at which the-cradle swings,=angIe-A has been found tobe satisfactory within-a range of about 120to 130, preferably about 125 degrees *The angle B falling-between the bottom portions '65 and 6t, will always be greater'than 180. {Operating angle B has also been found to 'be' satisfa'ctory within a range of. about 210 to 220, preferably about 215 degrees. Here again'angle B =will;vary with the speed at which -the crad-le is swung and the type of small article which-is -beingplated. The bottom wall portions 65, 66 rand-61 are preferably, but'not necessarily, plane. in some cases it has been found desirable to avoid v-formationsat the junction ofwall tliwith-wall G'Lof wall-65 with 66, and of wall 66 with the other wall 61. and to form the apexes about a4 inch radius so that the junctionsare curved-rather-thanin the form of sharp angles.

For purposes of description the exact dimensions of-a cradle ll, which was very successful ln'operation, will now'be-set forth, although it will lbe understocd that these dimensions are not a limitationof the invention. The cradle has bottom wall-portions tl-ten inches wide, wall portions 65 and 66 aboutifour anda half inches wide, and-wallportionsfifi -and" 5'l about fivefand five-eighths 'inches high. 'The angle A is 130 andthe angle Bis-220, while the angles between the wall portionsf 56, =5! and bottom wallportions 6'1 are about 110 each. arrangement gives very good tumbling action and resulted inal-most constant current 'fiow which'indi'catesf that the exposed work area was nearly constant at 'any working position of the cradle. {Very "good plat ing was obtained with parts Varying from A; inch fiat=steelwashersto steel bolts having a diameter of 'on'e inchand 'a length of eight inches.

The speed of the cradle is a very important factonitbeingnecessary that all the work-have suflicient time to-roll-across-the cradle before it reverses itsmotion. Naturally, if thl cradle moves too-slowly, th parts'-will not mix and take arr-even plate during "the limited 'plat'ing time. Alsogthre is danger ofburning. The tests indicate that-themax'imum speed of the-above specified cradle iseight' to twelv'e 'completecy'cles per -minute, depending upon the shape of the articles, balls, rollingoverfaster than light flat pieces. This can also be expressed as follows: {The maximum .averagespesd of the 4 work. as it travels relative .to the bottomirof-the= cradle is 25 to 38 feetper minute ata maximum cradle angle or angle of tilt of about"50 fromhorizontal, whenithe cradle speed isz-l2 complete cyclesrper minute. .;If;-this maximumrcradle .or tilting angle :is'increased', therocln'ng speed, that is, the average}. speed-at which -thecradle travels, should be increased approximately.inzproportion.. -5 -:.--i j i The rockingofthe {cradle l l is accomplished by means of a"telescoping' 'conn-ecting rod H3 hav ing ione lend pivotallycconn'ected at lll'-'"to'*the .crank and 3 l and the other en'd *pivotally conhectedatZMito-an extension' liio'f the bracket 62. The tubular sliding member of the telescoping against telescoping sliding action and f'bOzPIfiCG the lever arm 13-=in driving relationiwithzthe crank 3|. i-Hence, asthe-crank 3| rotates' -the connecting rod :11] .causes :the arm. 'l'3zto swing back and forth,- thus:rockingthecradle :lll about the shaft 12 betweenthe positionsof =.Figure=3 and-Figure '7. .It' will benoted thatnormally'the anode basket") remains stationary andth'atthe major portion of-thabasketat all timesprojects Within-the cradle 11 ,thus. maintaining the soluble anode area'at all-times inproximity to the=work. When it is desired tounload the cradle H, the cradle supporting frame .13, 1.4;isswung upwardly about the shaft 1 6 .as the lifting chain 39 winds upon the drum-'34. Thecradleand frame 1'3, .14 may be partially raised to the position shown in Figure 8 or completely raised to the position shovmiin Figurei'l. At-this'time the 'latch 'bl is disengaged fromthepivot 12, thus permitting-the telescoping rod members 10 to slide one within the other. Theoperator grasps-the lever 13and swings the cradle clockwise about theshaft 12 through 90 or more \or less to dump the-work upon a tray. Thiswork tray,.of -course, is positioned beneath:the.cradle .1 I assoon as-the latter is raised out of the-solution andbefore it is.tilted to dump the contents. There are two cathodeleads one at each end of the work basket. Eachcathodeileadis in t-he form of a flexible rubber coated-table 16 which is carried along thechannel support is (Figure-1) then passed through-aloof) i1 1 ontheoutside of the anode basket-support bracket 5D andf-rom there downward toward the bottom ofthe work cradle where the cable terminates and-is provided with a steel cathode-tip 18 freely-exposed to the. plating solution and resting uponthefibottom 58 of the cradle. Thus, each cathode LB-contacts theworkin the-bottom of the cradle and is swung to and fro with the work during the rocking actioncof-thecradle .to insure a continuous circuit and continuous plating. I :Although a specific-embodiment of the inventionihas beenillustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that :variousalterations in the details-of construction -may "be-made withoutdeparting from the'scope ofthe inventionasindicated bytheappen'ded claims. What I claim'is: I 5

21'. In an electrolytic plating-apparatus, a tank adapted to contain the electrolyte,'-a shaft supported horizontally across said-tankQa work con-'- tainer mounted for swinging movement on said shaft and'insai'd -tankand having side, and and bottom"walls, said bottom Wallb'eingW-shaped connecting said inner surfaces inside said-work container for soluble anode material-inthe form container being about 215 degrees, an -'insoluble "of a perforate basket positioned withinsaidwork container and-swingably mounted on saidshaft, and a 'c'a'thodecontact extending into said work container." e

"- '2. Inan'electrolytic'plating apparatus, a tank adapted to "contain the electrolyte, a-sha'ft' supported her izontally acrosssaid tank,--a-'work co ntainer mounted for"swinging movement on-said shaft and'in said tank and having side, end and bottom walls, saidbottom wall being W-shaped in cross section-and comprised of four plane surfaces forming three verticesparallel to said shaft, the angle between an inner and an outer surface of said W-shaped bottom inside said work container being about 125 degrees, and the angle connecting said inner surfaces inside said work container being about 215 degrees, an insoluble container for soluble anode material in theform of a perforate basket; positioned within said work container and swingably mounted on said shaft, said perforate basket approximately covering the bottom wall of said work container, said perforate basket having a smaller periphery than the open top of said work container, whereby the work container can swing :back and forth about the perforate basket during the operation of the machine, and a cathode contact extending into said work container.

3. In an electrolytic plating apparatus, a tank adapted to contain the. electrolyte, a shaft supported horizontally across said tank, a work container mounted for swinging movement on said shaft and in said tank and having side, endand bottom walls, an insoluble container for soluble anode material in theform of a perforate basket with a V-shapedv bottom positioned within said work container and swingably mounted on said shaft, thebottomwall of said container being W-shaped in cross section with its vertices parallel to the said shaft and its outer surfaces substantially parallel to the sides of said V-shaped bottom in the central position of the container, the angle between an inner and anouter surface of said W-shaped bottom inside said work container being about 125 degrees, and the angle connecting said inner surfaces inside said work container being about 215' degrees, means for oscillating said work container on said shaft, and a cathode contact extending into said work container. s

4. In an electrolytic plating apparatus, a tank adapted to contain the electrolyte, a shaft supported horizontally across said tank, a work container mounted for swinging movement on said shaft and in said tank and having side, end and :bottom walls, said bottom wall being W-shaped in cross section and comprised of four plane surfaces forming three vertices parallel to said shaft,

the angle between aninner and an outer surface of said W-shaped bottom insidesaid work container being about 125 degrees, and the angle connecting said inner surfaces inside said work container being about 215 degrees, an insoluble container for soluble anode material in the form of a perforate basket positioned within said work container and swingably mounted on said shaft, said perforate basket approximately covering'the bottom wall of said work container, said perforate basket having a smaller periphery than the open top of said work container, whereby the work container can swing back and forth about the perforate basket during the'operation of the machine, means for oscillating said work container on said shaft, and a cathode contact extending into said work container.

5. In an electrolytic plating apparatus, a tank adapted to contain the electrolyte, a shaft supported horizontallyacross said tank, a work container mounted for swinging movement on said shaft and in said tankand having side, end nd bottom walls, an insoluble container for soluble anode material in the form of a perforate basket with a V-shaped bottom positioned within said work container and swingably mounted on said shaft, the :bottom wall of saidcontainer being w-shaped in cross section with its vertices parallel to the said shaft and its outer surfaces substantially parallel to the sides of said V,-shaped bottom in the central position of the container, said outer surfaces of said W-shaped bottom being substantially wider than the inner surfaces thereof in the direction transverse of said shaft, the angle between an inner and an outer surface of said W-shaped bottom inside said work container being about degrees, and the angle connecting said inner surfaces inside said work container being about 215 degrees, a power shaft, a crank thereon, linkage from said crank to said work container for oscillating the latter, and a cathode contact extending into said work container.

6. In an electrolytic plating apparatus, a tank adapted to contain the electrolyte, a frame having one end pivotally mounted above and adjacent to said tank and its swinging end disposed directly over said tank, a cross shaft rotatably carried by said swinging end, a work container fixed to said shaft and a perforate anode basket pivotally suspended from said shaft, said basket normally lying within said container, a lever fixed to said cross shaft for rocking said container, a power shaft, a crank thereon, a telescopic rod having a section connected to said crank and another section connected to said lever, a latch on the first section adapted to lock on said lever to control the telescopic action of said rod, means for swinging said frame, and a cathode contact extending into said work container.

7. In an electrolytic plating apparatusa tank adapted to containthe electrolyte, a frame having one end pivotally mounted above arid adjacent to said tank and its swinging end disposed directly over said tank, a cross shaft rotatably carried by said swinging end, awork container fixed to said shaft and a perforate anode basket pivotally suspended from said shaft, said basket normally lying within said container, a lever fixed to said cross shaft forrocking said container, a power shaft, a crank thereon, a telescopic rod having a section connected to said crank and another section connected to said lever, a latch on the first section adapted to lock on said lever to control'the telescopic action of said-rod, a guide member above said cross shaft, a chain connected to said cross shaft and passing. over said member for raising and lowering said shaft and swinging said frame, a rotatable drum to which said chain is applied for Winding ia clutch between said drum and said power shaft, and a cathode contact extending. into said work container.

- JOHN V. DAVIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS 508,095 France July 15, 1920 

